25

It was a somber walk home. So far none of us have uttered a single word but I could feel Alec eyeing Anna in disgust. We'll die now because of some stupid human footballer of all people. Just before we reached our territory Alec turned to the two of us with a deathly harsh glare. "Not a word. I can fix this... I just need time".

I swallowed, there's no fixing this. And based off Anna's sniff she knows it too. Alec and I might be let off if Tahlia's in a good mood but I doubt it after we just attempted to murder her only brother. We're deader than dead.

But we both nodded. I think the smart thing to do is to tell father. But all three us are too friended of the punishment that would follow. Father might even kill Anna so Tahlia won't have the satisfaction of killing his child.

As soon as we walked through the front door my mothers harsh glare fell onto the three of us. Until it settled on me. "Avery, I've been looking all over town for you!. The packs arrive tomorrow and you haven't even tried on your ceremonial dress!". She waved her hands in the air like it's the biggest catastrophe since World War Two. I frowned. "The p-packs are coming here tomorrow?".

She scoffed. "Of course they are. We'd murder them if they didn't attend".

I shared a look with Anna and Alec. He was quick to shake his head at me in warning. The message was clear, not a word. He tusked and smiled at her. "Forgive me Mother. I just thought the three of us should spend some alone time before Avery meets her mate. She'll be so infatuated I doubt she'd care to bond with her siblings at all".

She put a manicured hand on his cheek and nodded. And smiled, that smile she's reserved for her favourite child. "Too right. Well, don't let me get in the way. But Avery...". . I felt like she was either going to attack me or hug me. "If you disappoint the family in any way, you'll find yourself wishing you didn't have bones to break again. Understood?".

I felt myself gulped from the memory. "Understood".

She clicked her tongue in annoyance. "And fix your hair before tomorrow".

I nodded. With that she left us alone. As soon as she was out of eyesight Anna exhaled. "She's never scared me so much before".

I snorted in amusement. "Welcome to my world".

Alec gave me a warning look before he indicated to follow him. He led us through corridors and ball rooms, past guest rooms until he opened a trap door on the third floor. I rose an eyebrow. "What is this?".

He shrugged. "This is a mansion that's literally hundreds of years old. It's got secret rooms everywhere".

I scoffed and turned to Anna. "Did you know this too?".

She shrugged. "I just know about the room behind the kitchen sink. Didn't think there was multiple though".

Alec rose his eyebrows in thought like it was news to him before indicating to the hole in the ground. As soon as I entered I was astounded. You could tell it was old because the furniture and wallpaper looked to be from the 1850's. Except someone had put sand bags around the rims of the walls. I couldn't believe it, not in this house. "A sound proof room?!?".

He winked at me. "Neat huh?".

Anna picked up a stray ink well and shook her head. "You have way too much time on your hands. So...".

And that's the question. So...what now?. I bit my lip before I sighed. "We should come clean. The packs are coming...we'd have allies to protect us".

Anna rubbed the back of her neck. I've never seen her so scared. "I don't know...Alec?".

He sat and like puppets we sat too. He shrugged. "It depends if they attack first or not. If they don't attack tonight then they'll go into hiding for seven days. It buys us time".

I frowned. "They'll attack. We tried to kill a member of their pack in No-mans land and Anna is a betrayer of peace".

Alec pointed his finger at me. "No she's not. Not formally. Not until Tahlia goes to the emissary. And that's if she believes Peter. If she crosses the boundaries tonight we can say she doesn't have just cause. Because she doesn't, not without a betrayer of peace and it'll be them who have broken the feud".

Anna sighed in relief. "I'm so glad you went to law school".

I swallowed. "We're forgetting one crucial detail. Tahlia could see what Peter saw tonight if she takes his memory. She'll know she's within her rights, and know she has just cause to label Anna a betrayer of peace and kill us".

Alec exhaled and shook his head. "She can, but unless she shows that memory to the emissary then she can't do anything. The Alphas are bound by Druid magic. It's currently eleven, Peter's probably told them everything. They have an hour to tell the emissary. Have him approve it and then order him to force father to hand off Anna. But, that's a lot for one hour...they won't make it".

Anna took Alec's hand and sniffed. "How do we know they're actually going to retreat and stay in hiding".

He smirked. "Because there's five of them and in an hour there'll be five hundred of us. All of us, who'd slaughter a Hale just for breathing".

It was at that point that Alec grunted and pulled off a clock from the ancient dusty fireplace. "So now, we wait. If nothing happens within the next hour then it's safe to assume we've just earned ourselves another seven days of life".